Oversize screened head unit?

[Bill]

Wife's stereo is borked and keeps turning itself on resulting in a low battery. It's a common issue apparently with the Sony unit fitted to Fords.

The issue is that the unit is an odd shape (It's in an SMax.) and not very big. So I was wondering about fitting a unit with a bigger screen that stands proud of the dash in the modern stuck on iPad stylee.

Thoughts? Not particularly bothered if it doesn't look great as long as it's functional and has Android auto. All the in dash solutions have a fairly small screen and fill in the gap around.

Here's a pic so you can see the issue.

[Tye Green]

try looking on Aliexpress - there's loads of options and there may even be a direct replacement


https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-ford-smax-h...

[craigjm]

It’s the same unit in the Focus. Have a look at this and speak to Dynamic Sounds would be my advice. You can fit a double din unit rather than having something floating and a gap behind

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/63689-...

[Bill]

Tye Green said:

try looking on Aliexpress - there's loads of options and there may even be a direct replacement

https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-ford-smax-h...

Ok, a lot of those are suspiciously cheap! Are they ok? Never used AliExpress so I'm a bit dubious. And how compatible are they? Ease of fitting is a bonus.

craigjm said:

It’s the same unit in the Focus. Have a look at this and speak to Dynamic Sounds would be my advice. You can fit a double din unit rather than having something floating and a gap behind

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/63689-...

That's the issue, double din head units have screens that aren't much bigger than a phone so I'm wondering about easy ways to get bigger.

[Bill]

It looks like Pioneer do what I'm after for single din units with a 9" screen, but only 7" in double din.

[craigjm]

Bill said:

It looks like Pioneer do what I'm after for single din units with a 9" screen, but only 7" in double din.

Just over 7 is the biggest you will get in double din. Do you really need bigger? Bigger units from Alpine, pioneer etc, the more expensive ones at least are not attached to a din chassis and are completely solo like the alpine freestyle range but then you have a big hole in your dash to cover. What do you want to do with it where a standard double din isn’t big enough? It will look much neater in that application. You will also need to update your wiring and your ECU so that the car doesn’t automatically reject what you have fitted as stolen

If you want to you could blank half the din and fit a single chassis with a cover plate. The biggest you can get is 11 inch from the proper audio companies like this

https://www.incarmusic.co.uk/alpine-ilx-f115d.html

Edited by craigjm on Tuesday 7th November 11:33

[Frenchda]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314272508084?var=0&...

Or try searching aliexpress. You can buy the mounting kit separately. I have an ATOTO "floating screen" in my MX5 - works great. Fast boot up always connects, car play etc. From memory about £180.

I use Aliexpress all the time - check reviews etc - never had an issue.